Gun-wielding drug gang who filmed themselves terrorising town sit laughing in court as they are jailed for 95 years

The notorious Fernhill Gang, from Bootle, Merseyside, were jailed for 95 years to the relief of terrified local residents

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By JENNIFER HALE

19th November 2016, 12:35 pm

Updated: 20th November 2016, 3:10 pm

MEMBERS of a notorious gang whose reign of terror running drugs and guns terrified the local community were jailed for 95 years yesterday.

The Fernhill Gang, from Bootle, Merseyside, were sent down for their "ruthless" drug dealing operation in the area, where they supplied cocaine and heroin and orchestrated two attempts to flood Walton prison with contraband.

He said: “Night and day, they and their team of helpers worked tirelessly round the clock dealing Class A drugs locally on the Dodge Estate, from where they came, and throughout South Sefton and north to Southport.

“They used many graft phones, which were the call centre for the business.

"The phones were active 24/7, with batch messages being sent out to their customer database, sometimes hundreds at a time.

“The orders would then flow in from mobiles, land lines and telephone kiosks.”

Video footage shows the gang trying to intimidate the police, with members goading: "Do I oblige? You’re just a public servant.

Detective Superintendent Lee Turner, said: "This group was responsible for thousands of drugs deals on a daily basis and brought misery to the streets were they plied their criminal trade.

"Those involved in the group were also responsible for anti -social behaviour around the Hereford Drive estate and were not averse to using violence and intimidation to protect their drugs business.

"Organised crime groups like this, who deal in the wholesale supply and distribution of controlled drugs, don’t care about the impact that supply of drugs has in our communities.

"But I would like to reassure the decent members of our communities that Merseyside Police is committed to tackling the supply of drugs and we will continue to proactively tackle criminal gangs who think nothing of flooding the streets with dangerous drugs in order to profit from other people's misery.

"There is nothing more that undermines public confidence than being able to see people visibly profiting from crime and we are determined to show people like Shiels and his associates that crime doesn’t pay.”